Well bucket



March 2 1926.

J. R. GILBREATH WELL BUCKET Filed April 8,

gwuem or 1/72. ffl/eaf Mar. 2, 1926.

Joan is; GILBREArIi, or s'r'iiiLiii'riIliJ, oii tanoivia.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. GILBREATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stillwell, in the county of Adair and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a \Vell Bucket, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved well bucket, and it has reference to one which is provided in its bottom with a valve, by means of which the contents may be dis charged after the bucket has been raised above the surface, whereby to obviate the necessity of inverting the bucket to empty it.

It is my principal aim to generally improve upon valved well bucketsby providing one with a novel valve and operating means which is such as to permit the valve to be opened easily against the weight of the water.

Another object is to improve upon devices of this class by providing one of comparative simplicity and durability which is practical in construction, easy to manipulate, and very inexpensive to both the manufacturer and the user.- 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a well bucket provided with a valve and operating device in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken approximately upon the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1 designates a vertically elongated bucket, which is provided with a tapered lower end portion 2, and a similarly tapered upper end portion 3. An appropriate handle 4 is fastened to the upper end 3, while a curved bottom 5 is connected with the lower' end portion 2. It will be observed that this bottom is spaced upwardly of the extremity of the portion 2 and that it is provided with a central opening into which a plug valve 6 is adapted to drop. This valve is provided with a discular head 7, the periphery of which projects beyond the tapered body portion is shown to serve as a rest to bear upon the bottom 5 as shown in Figure 1. A central stem 8 is connected to the head 7 and extends upwardly almost to the center of the bucket. Substantially opposite the upper terminal of the stem 5, a bracket 9 is secured to the wall of the bucket. It will be noted that the bracket is substantially semi-circular in top plan, and is in the form of a relatively wide band of metal, the same being formed intermediate its ends with an aperture. A lever 10 cooperates with this bracket and valve stem. The lever is formed from a short length of wire pivoted as at 11 and coiled between its ends as at 12, the coil extending through the aperture at the center of the bracket to pro vide a fulcrum for the lever. The opposite end of the wire, beyond the coil, terminates in spaced relation from the wall of the bucket, and a vertical operating rod 13 is pivotally connected at its lower end to this end of the lever. The rod 13 extends upwardly through the top of the bucket, and then through a guide opening 14- in the aforesaid handle 4, the rod terminating in an eye 15. As shown, the handle is provided with an eye or the equivalent 16 to which a hoisting cord, or the like, 17 is connected. Obviously, the bucket is dropped into the well in the usual Way, and lifted above the surface. When at this point, the upper end of the operating rod 18 is grasped and a downward push is exerted thereon. This serves to rock the lever 10 upon its central fulcrum, and to lift the valve stem 8 and open the valve 6, thus allowing the Water to discharge from the bucket. Vith this leverage, the valve may be easily opened even if the bucket is entirely full of water.

It is thought that the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates to obtain a clear understanding of the same. For this reason a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

'lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention,.it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a well bucket, a body having a bottom and a central discharge opening therein, a

I flanged valve movable downwardly into and adapted to control said opening and rest on said bottom and having an upstanding central stem, a curvilinear bracket spaced from the Wall of the bucket body and having its ends a-flixed to said Wall and also having an aperture at its middle, a guide carried at the top of the bucket body, a rod movable vertically in said guide, and a lever having arms connected to the valve stem 10 and the lever is enabled to swing vertically 15 on a portion of the bracket as a fulcrum.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN R. GILBREATH. 

